Kensington junk yard fire under control; smoke conditions persist

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood is still feeling the effects of a four-alarm fire that broke out at a junk yard on Tuesday night and consumed a city block.

The fire started around 8:30 p.m. at Somerset and Tulip streets. Firefighters brought the blaze under control around midnight, but smoke still filled the air Wednesday morning with the odor of burning rubber.

A lot of smoke still coming from the junkyard at Somerset and Tulip in Kensington. Officials called for four-alarms last night. Fire is under control but crews with a lot of work to do. @KYWNewsradiopic.twitter.com/dqzH92y4vQ

Firefighters were still on the scene Wednesday morning, and traffic had been diverted around the area. Lehigh Avenue is closed between Frankford and Aramingo avenues, and I-95 southbound is jammed from the Betsy Ross Bridge to just past Allegheny Avenue, because of heavy smoke conditions.

Huge flames were raging for hours. People who live in the neighborhood couldn't believe what they were seeing. "I've seen a couple fires in my life," said one neighbor. "Never seen a fire this big. It's scary."

Charles Moyer said he wanted to make sure those he knew in the area were all right.

"I'm just worried about anybody getting hurt, especially my pastor here," Moyer said. "I wanted to come over and check on him. I see the smoke coming over this way. It has me concerned."

No injuries have been reported yet. The cause of the fire is still unknown.